New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
"REMINISCENCES OF A. Fl. STEPHENS AND
SOME STATESMEN OF TO-DAY,

wAsMSGroS, July I6-while looking over some
papers to-day found the notes Of an evening con-
versaton with Alexander II. stephens some years
ago. He occupied ut that time the rooms In which
Henry Clay lived for many years and In which the
great Kentuckian died. Littb no change had
been made In the furniture or arrangement Of the
two rooms In thirty years except that Mr. Stephens
used as bedroom the apartment which had been
Mr. Clay's sitttng-ro0m On tho evening referred
to we sat In Mr.. Stcphensrs seeping-room, and he
INDUCED in many "reminiscences Of Mr.. Clay and
other public men. Several persons called during the
evening. Among them o General B. of
Texas, big man with pompous manner and a big
voice, and fond Of big words which he sometimes
used with more regard to sound than meaning He
explained that he had left Georgia. his native State,
before Nh Stephens had achieved great distinction
"but," he added. II had not resided many years in
Texas, str, before my brother wrote me that that
diminished pale, boysh-ooking fellow Aleok stephens
had turned out to be regular progeny"
For time during his first years in Congress Mr..
stephens was q member Of what was known as the
supreme Court Mess" where he formed the ac-
quaintance Of William NJ. Evarts and Morrison X.
Waite who were In Washington attending to business
in the Supreme court and who were members Of the
Same "mess." Another member OF tho "messn was
Allen Owen, Of Georgia, a cassmate of Mr. Evarts
and Mr.. Walte at Yale. The three lawyers In
innate friends. Owen died about the close Of tho
and left two daughters in destitute circumstances.
They made their way TO Savannah and at iast sue
ceeded in reaching New York, whore they made them
selves and their condition known to Mr. Evarts, who
Immediately Interested himself In their behalf and
obtained situations for them In OF the Government
Offices Mr.. Stephens added: "when Mr.. Waite came
to Washington after his appointment and conlrma-
ton as Chief Justice the first thing he did was to
find and call upon the daughters Of his old cassmate.
and his second call upon tho rebel ViccPresident
! being III at tho time"
Mr. od
"Whon Benton was on his deathbed he sent for
George W. Jones and myself. He asked to COM
pleto and publish tho last 1ve volumes Of his
'Abrldgment Of tho Debates In Congress- which he
did not live to SEQ published and 1 undertook and
performed the task To Mr.. Jones the dying Senator
gavo several commissions. Among tho things no
said was this as wei as can recall the words: I
have been long in public lfe-thrty years Senator
Of the United States l desire it to be made known
that despite all the excitcmcnts and temptations
incident to my career there two places In which
have never been In my life. I have never been
in gambling house. nor as delegate in a National
Convention to nominate candidate for the Presi-
dency-both of which places hold in equal abhor-
renee" Mr.. Stephens said that his view OF National
Conventions exactly agreed with that 50 foreibly
expressed by Mr. Benton.
Mr.. stephens's comments ON come OF the living
members Of his own party were sharp and seyefo.
ics example, he said: "Mr. Thurman Is greatly
overraed man; he l. Ignorant VI some VI tho piancse
constitutional principles which underlie the Govern
ment; be is unsafe leader-or rather he lacks all
the qualities OF leadership. As leader he may DO
Ikened to ono Of the Idle and enthusiastic urchins
who precede band Of circus music In country
village and who may be said 70 lead the band' In
that sense he may be styled leader"
Referring to Mr.. BlacAburn's extreme loquacity
when In the chair a. Speaker pro TEN Of the House
as vel as ON all other occasions, Mr.. Stephens re-
marked: "Nell I SUPPOSE Joe' thinks tAe chief
duty OF Speaker is to sleak." J. .